Dr David Kelly's family received threats from theorists to dig up the weapon inspector's grave

Dr Kelly, 59, was found dead in a wood in 2003 shortly after being named as the source of a BBC report claiming the Government "sexed up" a crucial dossier about whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

His death led to the Hutton inquiry which found he had committed suicide, but there was no inquest.

The investigation into the tragic death of Dr Kelly left many unsatisfied

"There has been no desecration. About three years ago Mrs Kelly sent the police round to me one Saturday night. They started questioning me.

"We were going to go for an exhumation licence ourselves. Earlier this year, around March, I said to the coroner, if you can't help us we might have to pursue an exhumation, and the next moment the exhumation went ahead. What does that tell you?

"Why after 14 years would someone want to do this? I think it's a bit more than Mrs Kelly."

The family source denied any connection with the state, saying: "Janice just hated what was happening."

Thames Valley Police said: "The body was exhumed a few months ago at the request of his family."